2017’s Most Patriotic States in America

Jun 27, 2017 | Richie Bernardo, Senior Writer

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Expressions of American patriotism come in many forms — from setting off fireworks during Fourth of July and buying American-made goods to paying taxes and serving in the armed forces. But some states are better than others at showing their national pride.

So in order to determine where Americans bleed the most red, white and blue, WalletHub’s data team compared the states across 13 key indicators of patriotism. Our data set ranges from share of enlisted military population to share of adults who voted in the 2016 presidential election to AmeriCorps volunteers per capita. Read on for our findings, expert commentary and a full description of our methodology.

G. Terry Madonna

Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs, Director of the Franklin and Marshall College Poll and Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College

What are the characteristics of a good patriot?

The first characteristic is a deeply held loyalty to the country, sometimes interpreted as nationalism, and a fierce pride in being American. That certainly does not mean a loyalty to any particular party or candidate. For some, that gets translated into various forms of civic engagement, such as voting, running for office, active involvement in civic organizations, and service in the military are among the most prominent factors.

Another factor involves referencing the “creed,” the founding documents, usually the principles enunciated in the U.S. constitution and a reliance on our country’s history.

What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time?

The decision to join the military is more complex than just a matter of economics. Yes, the economic situation does play a role for some, but research has shown that a variety of circumstances and factors affect one’s decision to join the military. For example, as a 2011 Pew survey of veterans pointed out, serving the country motivated those that wanted to join the military, and that certainly represents a form of patriotism. The second reason given was the ability to access the accompanying educational benefits provided by the military. Now, this consideration has some economic aspects to it, as slightly more than one-in-four interviewees cited a tough time finding civilian employment as reason to enlist.

And so, the economic argument and prospects for civilian employment can’t be dismissed. There is another factor relating to population density. States with less population density tend to produce the highest level of recruits, perhaps, because of fewer economic opportunities in those states, and the fact
that many recruiting stations are located in those areas.

Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism?

As previously mentioned, serving in the military is one form of patriotism. A study done by the National Priorities Project concluded that lower income and higher income folks had the lowest enlistment rates, and the middle class had the highest. That could qualify the latter group as the most patriotic. But if one looks at voting as a key factor in patriotism, then folks with higher education levels and higher incomes would qualify.

Conclusion: It’s not easy to definitively point to a single factor or link.

Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism?

It seems that millennials have found different ways to show what might be called patriotism. They are much less likely to join a political party, and they are more skeptical of big institutions than other age cohorts. It looks like their patriotism is expressed by engaging in a variety of community activities, such as volunteering in organizations that promote social causes, joining groups that provide service to needy groups, as well as single-issue groups that support a variety of cultural issues and other forms of protest activities. They don’t seem to connect service in the military as a form of patriotism.

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

Personally, I don’t think the answer lies in selecting one or the other. There is certainly a set of interests, involving our national and economic security, that require we be careful to protect our citizenry. Still, we are also members of the global community. But more than that, after World War 1, we moved away from the isolationist tendencies that have been prevalent in American history. We became the dominant economy, the protector of the free world and the defender of democracy. There is much that we have done and can continue to do to assist struggling nations without damaging our own interests, and continue to defend the free world against tyranny. That means we have to provide a balance in how we conduct our national policies.

What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens?

As someone who taught American history and government for many years, one aspect of the answer lies in what we do in our schools. We need to teach the history of our country, noting the struggles that have taken place to move our nation forward. That would importantly include the principles of our founding and the evolution of democracy. That does not mean we should give short shrift to our nation’s shortcomings, such as slavery and racism, and many other elements of our history.

It is also important for the schools and other institutions to promote civic engagement and a commitment to service. That translates into voting, even seeking public office. These conversations need to include the values of diversity and tolerance, as well as an enriched sense of American history and culture.

When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators?

There is no way to know for sure the top indicators. That relies on some consensus of how one defines patriotism. It could relate to voting, to service to the larger community, to service in the military, and other factors. A previous study conducted by WalletHub included a model to quantify a state’s degree of patriotism, using military service and civic engagement. The conclusion the study found was that the ten most patriotic states were Maine, Wyoming and Arizona, with the remaining ones hailing from the southeastern part of the country.

Dr. Madonna’s responses were based on his own knowledge on patriotism and national identity, as well as on James Connolly’s primary research on the topic. James is a student intern at Franklin & Marshall College.

Ralph Young

Professor of History at Temple University

What are the characteristics of a good patriot?

This is in the eye of the beholder. Every American certainly believes s/he is patriotic. But patriotism is a very fluid concept. It means different things to everyone. And almost everyone has their own definition for patriotism. For some people it's "my country right or wrong." For others patriotism is loyalty and dedication to the principles on which this nation is founded. And here's where it gets tricky. Some people have a distorted idea of the founding principles. And so, in a sense, if you want to know what the characteristics of a good patriot are you have to start with knowledge, with education, with critically examining the historical record. And for most Americans this is not an easy task. Most people want to have a simple black or white view of the past. But it is more complicated than that.

An easy example is the contradiction that a lot of people see in slave holder Thomas Jefferson writing in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." Immediately complexity and nuance sets in. I believe I am very patriotic, but for me that means I believe deeply in the founding principles. I believe in "all men and women and races are created equal," I believe in the consent of the governed. I believe in democracy. I believe in free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, and above all I believe it is the duty of every patriotic American to protest and dissent when they see any of these founding principles being eroded, attacked, or flouted.

Some Americans believe dissent is unpatriotic. I believe it is the highest form of patriotism. The thesis of my book Dissent: The History of an American idea is that this nation is the product of dissent. In the 17th century, religious dissenters founded colonies in New England and Pennsylvania, in the 18th century dissenters led protests and boycotts and demonstrations (including massive property damage -- the Boston Tea Party) that led to a violent revolution in order to gain independence. And then when we framed the Constitution the right to dissent was placed in the First Amendment. And we've been protesting ever since: women for the right to vote, abolitionists fighting to end slavery, civil rights activism, gay rights, environmentalism, and every war in our nation's history has had its protestors. Most of these dissenters were indeed patriots. They pushed America to be the nation it believes itself to be. It pushed America to live up to its own lofty ideals.

What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time?

In times of national emergency, like after Pearl Harbor and 9/11, the first motivation for those enlisting in the military is deep-seated patriotism of the ideal sort. In times of relative peace, many who enlist are doing so for the economic and educational benefits they hope to get from service. Idealism, to some extent, takes a back seat.

Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism?

I don't think so.

Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism?

When young people see the U.S. moving away from its ideals, when they believe that the United States isn't promoting democracy (like in Vietnam), they will express their patriotism through protest. But when the U.S. is facing an existential crisis (like the Civil War or WWII), patriotism is expressed by a deep commitment to the war effort, either through enlisting or working as a volunteer nurse, building armaments or recycling steel and aluminum and rubber, and paying taxes and generally sacrificing for the public good.

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

Both are important. But I would put global citizens first. Be a part of the world. Be a part of the times we are living in. We are a small fragile world and we've all got to get along. (Like Woody Guthrie, I think "God Bless America" is an example of sanctimoniousness and that the deeper sentiment is "God Bless the Planet.")

What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens?

Teach students real history; the deeper context of American history. Sure, all the beautiful wonderful moments (like the flag raising at Iwo Jima and the commitment to constitutional democracy). But also we need to learn about the dark side of American history. Slavery. The Trail of Tears. The KKK. We were
never perfect. We are trying to "form a more perfect union."

When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators?

It all comes down to education. We need to dig deeply into our roots and understand how hard it was to overcome the mistakes and the imperfections, and the struggle that so many ordinary Americans (not just the famous historical figures) went through to make America the kind of country that abolished
slavery in the 19th century, and in the 20th came up with the Marshall Plan to address the post WWII devastation in an effective way. We need to look at all that, the good and the bad, and develop an understanding that democracy is something that didn't just happen. It was fought for. And clearly it constantly needs to be fought for. If we don't understand our history, we don't understand ourselves.

Ultimately we are a generous nation. We mustn't forget that.

Jacob Neiheisel

Assistant Professor of Political Science at University at Buffalo

What are the characteristics of a good patriot?

Political psychologists often make a distinction between "blind" patriotism and other, more critical versions (this is often called "constructive" patriotism). Blind patriots are unquestioningly positive regarding their own country and are often intolerant of criticisms directed at their nation. I can see some utility in the blind version of patriotism at times (among members of the military during wartime, perhaps), but for the most part I am comfortable saying that one of the most important characteristics of a good patriot is the ability to turn a critical eye toward the actions of any nation, including his or her own.

What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time?

I'm sure this relationship has changed over time. I have no systematic data on this point, but my hunch is that economics is a powerful motivator during peacetime for many who join the military, whereas patriotism is a much stronger motivator during times of national crisis (in the immediate aftermath of
9/11, for instance).

Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism?

I'm sure there is a correlation between socioeconomic status and patriotism, but this is likely just an artifact of other factors such as geography (urban versus rural), partisanship, and ideology -- variables that all correlate with socioeconomic class.

Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism?

My guess is that there have been changes over time in response to what it means to be a patriot at the time.

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

I'm less comfortable venturing into the normative realm than I am into more positivist arenas. That being said, there are no pure "goods" in my view, and there are likely pros and cons to either approach to child-rearing.

What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens?

This may be a bit self-serving, but I think that promoting a solid knowledge and understanding of history and government would be a good place to start. In the context of the United States, at least, it is difficult not to feel just a little bit patriotic when reading some of the writings of the founding generation (The Federalist, for instance). An appropriately nuanced presentation of American history and government also puts such achievements in context and helps to foster an appropriately critical kind of patriotism.

When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators?

Percent of the state's population with prior military experience; republican share of the two-party presidential vote in the last election (or an average over the last few elections); percent rural.

Jane Dailey

Associate Professor of American History, the Law School and the College at The University of Chicago

What are the characteristics of a good patriot?

A patriot is unselfish. A patriot puts the good of the nation above his own interests. A patriot obeys the laws of the state, including the Constitution.

What I consider patriotism is fidelity to the Constitution and a willingness to sacrifice some of one’s own interests for the interest of the collective (AKA the nation). Sally Yates is a patriot. James Comey is a more self-interested patriot. People who lie under oath in confirmation hearings are not patriots. People who don’t pay their taxes are not patriots.

What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time?

Interesting question. I don’t know what percentage of economically well-off people enlist. Obviously, a lot of soldiers enlist hoping to move up the economic ladder. But my students at the University of Chicago who join up do so for other reasons. All in all, I think that we should not have an all-volunteer force. Everyone should have the opportunity to serve her country in some capacity or another.

Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism?

Possibly. Given that selflessness is at the core of the virtuous citizen or patriot, I suspect that many rich people find it more difficult to act in a disinterested fashion than poorer folks.

Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism?

Yes. There seems to be a marked tendency among young people in many parts of the country to express their patriotism by shouting about it a lot. (“U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”)

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

Either/or questions are never enlightening.

When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators?

States who receive less from the federal government than they contribute in federal taxes. This would put Illinois in the running as a top patriotic state, because the people of Illinois donate millions of dollars to their less-well-off compatriots in other states. This is an important way of putting America, rather than oneself, first, especially since it goes unrecognized by the beneficiaries.

States whose votes are diluted because of constitutional guarantees to protect the rights of minorities. Once again, California, Illinois and New York come out at the top, since the votes of our citizens are worth a fraction of those of less-populated states in federal elections: and yet we persevere in the Union.

States that cooperate with their neighbors on everything, from common natural resources to infrastructure projects and public health works (e.g., anti-mosquito campaigns).

States that make it easy for their citizens to vote -- the most basic right of citizenship.

States that balance the interests of private property with those of the commonweal, in the interest of supporting entrepreneurship while encouraging the humane treatment of people.

Gail Sahar

Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College

What are the characteristics of a good patriot?

Psychologists do not see "patriotism" as necessarily one construct; rather, there are different types of patriotism. For example, researchers have suggested a distinction between "blind patriotism," which holds that one should support the country no matter what and that it is wrong to criticize it, and "constructive" patriotism, which is a belief system suggesting that one can value one's country, but still criticize it in order to make it better. Yet, another distinction is between patriotism or love of one's country and nationalism, a feeling of superiority to other nations. My guess in terms of states is that blue (liberal) states would tend to endorse constructive patriotism, whereas red (conservative) states would be more likely to be blind, nationalistic patriots, but that is of course a generalization.

In my mind, a good patriot is someone who not only feels a positive attachment to his/her country, but also is educated about its government and actively participates in the political process. It's easy to fly a flag without actually doing anything to help the country.

What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time?

I am not sure about the military question or the one about SES. My guess is that younger generations might have less symbolic attachments to things like the American flag, and may in fact be more comfortable with constructive than blind patriotism. There is evidence that Americans are increasingly skeptical of politicians and government. A number of events are probably responsible for this, from the Vietnam War to Watergate to the current feeling among many younger people, that the government is set up to help the wealthiest Americans. I think the increasing cynicism about American politics has made younger generations less likely to take a "my country right or wrong" type of approach. They see flaws and are not hesitant to point them out.

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

I believe it would be beneficial to raise our children as global citizens first, and patriots second. It is human nature to identify with your group and to organize the world in terms of "ingroups" and "outgroups." It happens without our even trying. Therefore, in my mind, feelings of attachment to one's country will happen with very little effort. The more difficult thing is to get people to break down those barriers and begin to see everyone as equal.

Francesco Duina

Professor of Sociology at Bates College

What is the relative influence of economic incentives versus patriotic intentions when deciding whether or not to join the military? Has this changed over time?

This is a tough question to answer. We know that young men and women from less privileged backgrounds tend to join the military more (in per capita terms) than people from other social extractions. But the differences in numbers may not be as big as one might expect. And, among the very least well-off, the numbers are not necessarily very high. The lower middle class appears to be perhaps the biggest contributor. This suggests that economic incentives matter. At the same time, we know that patriotism is very high in all classes, and especially those with fewer economic means. So, perhaps it is a combination of economic need and love of country. To this we must add another important driver: a history of service in the family. This, again, tends to be quite common in the middle and lower middle classes. So, several different factors seem to be at work together. Teasing them out is not easy.

Is there a link between socioeconomic class and level of patriotism?

If you look at data from the General Social Survey or the World Values Survey, you see a couple of interesting things. First, in the United States, patriotism is very high across all socioeconomic classes (and higher than that found in many other advanced countries in the world). On average, depending on how you measure it, close to 90% of respondents in any socioeconomic class will tell you that they love the United States, that they think it is one of the best countries on Earth, that they rather be citizens of the United States than of any other country, that it is God's country, and so on.

Secondly, Americans coming from the lowest socioeconomic classes appear to be the most patriotic (along, in some cases, with the richest Americans). Interestingly, the patriotism of America's poor appears also to be quite resilient. While the patriotism of wealthier Americans showed some negative trends following the 2008-2009 financial crisis, that of poorer Americans seems to have held steady. On the whole, then, Americans with limited socioeconomic means appear to be exceptionally patriotic.

Has there been a shift in the way younger generations perceive and express their patriotism

Recent surveys by organizations like the Pew Research Center suggest that younger Americans are less patriotic than older ones. To be sure, they are still on the whole quite patriotic. But there is definitely a gap. In the 2013 Pew Research survey, 70% of Millennials agreed with the statement “I am very patriotic.” But Gen Xers came in at 86%, Boomers at 91%, and Silents at 90%. A gap is also observable among poorer Americans, who are, as I noted already, a particularly patriotic group: poor young Americans are less patriotic than poor older ones. The gap varies depending on the metrics one uses to measure patriotism. It is usually around 10-20%. All this suggests a difference between generations in the nature of their patriotism. Yet, they also seem to share much in common. All generations, for instance, appear to ground their patriotism in the freedom they think America stands for.

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

This is of course a personal perspective. In my view, national identity can provide people with a much needed sense of dignity. It can also encourage participation in civic life (from voting to taking care of public spaces). At the same time, it can breed a sense of superiority, aggressive behaviors toward others, and various kinds of provincialism. We certainly continue to live in a world of nations (more so than a globalized world). My view, overall, is that patriotic narratives should be toned down in favor of a more global sense of citizenship. Many of the problems we face today are global or regional (for instance, Europe or the Middle East), rather than national. The solutions will come from regionally -- and globally -- minded people.

When evaluating the most patriotic states in America, what are the top five indicators?

Much can be gained by looking at social scientific survey data. We have a considerable amount of information on how people in different states feel toward the greatness of the United States, their love of it, their commitment and readiness to serve, etc. Yet, there are alternative indicators too -- even if these may not be readily available and would require some original data collection. For instance, how many homes display American flags in their front yards? Is the Pledge of Allegiance still recited in the public school system? How well attended are public events such as 4th of July paraded or Memorial Day remembrances? I would think these would be great indicators to use.

Evelyn Alsultany

Director of the Arab and Muslim American Studies, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Associate Professor of American Culture at University of Michigan

What are the characteristics of a good patriot?

There are competing approaches to patriotism in the United States. The most common approach is supporting government policies, particularly foreign policies, and pledging allegiance to the U.S. nation state. However, another approach is to keep our government accountable to democratic principles and processes and to do so by exercising one’s citizenship rights as outlined by the U.S. constitution. Within this approach to patriotism, it is important to exercise one’s right to freedom of speech, the right to petition the government and assemble for protest when one disagrees with government policies, freedom of religion, etc. These often become competing approaching to patriotism as those who seek to keep the government accountable do not see at as their role to blindly support the government as a display of patriotism. Those who believe that we should support the government often argue that our officials have been democratically elected and thus have earned our trust and support.

Arabs and Muslim Americans, since 9/11, have been primarily understood within the context of national security. It has therefore become common for some Arab and Muslim Americans to express their patriotism by supporting government policies and displaying American flags in order to prove their belonging as Americans. Khizr Khan who spoke at the Democratic National Convention is perhaps an example of both approaches. On the one hand, he pledged his allegiance to the United States and made the ultimate patriotic sacrifice -- his son died while serving the U.S. military. On the other hand, he made a powerful challenge to Donald Trump to uphold the constitution.

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

Many scholars (for example, the late Edward Said) have written about how patriotism in the form of nationalism can justify war, murder, and the dehumanization of others because it creates sharp divisions. Dehumanization is an essential ingredient to war and murder. Thus raising children as global citizens has the potential of leading to a more peaceful world. It also forces us to examine the root causes of problems like terrorism, rather than easily and inaccurately attributing it to people, culture or religion.

Ervin Staub

Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Doctoral Program in the Psychology of Peace and Violence at University of Massachusetts at Amherst

What are the characteristics of a good patriot?

A good patriot loves his/her country. He or she learns about policies and practices in the country, supports those that contribute to the quality of life in the country and acts to contribute to them. A good patriot also opposes policies and practices that are contrary to the core positive values of the contrary, or to humane values in general. I call such people constructive patriotism, in contrast to blind patriots, who also love their country but act on the principle “my country, right or wrong.”

In our research, blind patriots were less politically informed, and did not want other countries to appropriate elements of our culture -- for example, they did not like that the Japanese played baseball. (This was research done in the 1990s -- the specifics of this are likely to change over time). Patriotism is different from nationalism, the desire to enhance the power, influence or depending on circumstances the territory of one’s country.

Should we be raising our children as global citizens first or as Americans first?

It is useful for individuals to have identification with a group. But the two are not exclusive. I think we should raise them as both, at the same time. Americans who don’t draw lines between us and them, except on the basis of actions by others that are harmful to people, who see a continuity between America and the rest of the world, who appreciate the “other” and care about the welfare of all human beings (what I have called inclusive caring).

What measures should schools and local authorities undertake in order to promote patriotism among citizens?

To develop constructive patriotism, teachers of history and related topics should talk about the many positive characteristics and actions of the United States, our democracy, our Constitution, our important role in WWI and II, the Marshall plan, and others. They should also discuss the many problematic actions of the country, such as the treatment of Native American, slavery and still continuing racism, the degree of inequality in America, our unnecessary wars. But they should also stress the great potential of the U.S. at home and in its leadership in the world, and have students discuss ideas of how they can contribute to making that potential actual.

Methodology

To determine the most patriotic states, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states across two key dimensions, including “Military Engagement” and “Civic Engagement.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 13 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of patriotism.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score, which we then used to rank-order all the cities in our sample.

Military Engagement – Total Points: 50

Average Number of Military Enlistees per 1,000 Civilian Adults Population Between 2010 & 2015 (No Prior Service): Triple Weight (~25.00 Points)

Frequency of Google Searches for American Flags: Quarter Weight (~1.28 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the total number of searches.

Civics Education Requirement: Full Weight (~5.13 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense Manpower Data Center, Corporation for National & Community Service, Peace Corps, Military OneSource, United States Elections Project, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement.

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Community Discussion

Interesting criteria considered. Personally I think the Google searches for "American flag," even at the low weight used, have no value whatsoever and that the civics educational requirement is seriously underrated. But I didn't make up the survey.

Statistics do not give the information you seek. I was born and raised in one state and lived and traveled the world for the next 28 years of my life. I would have gone back to the state of my birth if not for the exception of my son living in another, where I settled in and retired. It is my opinion that the things you looked at are purely civic and personal financial decision markers. To my knowledge people are individually patriotic and as such without asking individuals, your data is wrong. Patriotism is in hearts, not in numbers.